Will Pipes Freeze in Lamb County, TX? 29 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Lamb County
In a normal year Lamb County, TX gets 29 nights at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 44% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 112 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 29 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 4 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 29 nights of risk to 4 nights. A 12 ft heat-tape kit runs $17 to $37; an average burst-pipe repair is about $500.
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/01, last around 04/06. For 20°F: 12/01 to 02/28.
How cold Lamb County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 25°F; the coldest month, January, averages 24°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 4 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24°F | 26°F | 34°F | 41°F | 52°F | 62°F | 65°F | 64°F | 56°F | 44°F | 32°F | 25°F |
Lamb County next to its neighbours
Bailey County, TX, 44 km west, gets 43 nights below 20°F to Lamb County's 29 nights. Hale County, TX, 48 km east, gets 26 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamb County, TX | - | 112 nights | 29 nights | 24°F |
| Bailey County, TX | 44 km west | 125 nights | 43 nights | 21°F |
| Hale County, TX | 48 km east | 102 nights | 26 nights | 25°F |
| Hockley County, TX | 51 km south | 99 nights | 20 nights | 25°F |
| Castro County, TX | 52 km north | 130 nights | 43 nights | 22°F |
| Parmer County, TX | 65 km northwest | 118 nights | 35 nights | 23°F |
| Cochran County, TX | 68 km southwest | 106 nights | 27 nights | 24°F |
Lamb County within TX
Lamb County ranks 22 of 254 TX counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Lipscomb County, TX at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Cameron County, TX: none, winter lows near 54°F. At 3,643 ft, Lamb County sits 2,650 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Olton, TX, 23 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.